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1998 Map of Iris Wash

Name: 1998 Topographic Map of Iris Wash
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2003
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2003

About this map

Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range dominates this landscape in Imperial County, reflecting a mid-20th century transition from traditional mining to military training. The map shows the Camp Dunlap (Site) near the Coachella Canal, a location that evolved from a World War II Marine Corps base into a seasonal settlement area. Infrastructure like the East Highline Canal and Siphon points to the vital irrigation engineering required to manage water in this arid environment.

Industrial and geological features are scattered throughout the Chocolate Mountains and the flat expanse of the East Mesa. The presence of the Imperial Buttes Mine and a Gravel Pit highlights the region's extraction history, while the Landing Strip and Gas Line Road underscore the logistical importance of this desert terrain. The primary drainage, Iris Wash, provides the central geographical spine through which these various human activities—military, industrial, and agricultural—converge.